Watch this Trader Joe's manager reject a group of entitled Karens who refuse to wear a mask in his store during a mandate.
We’re closing in on almost a full year of the global coronavirus crises. You’d think that would mean people are used to the rules by now, especially wearing a mask in public areas. But not “Karens”.
Honestly, at this point, it’s insane that any retail employee could have the ounce of patience to put a stop to a group of belligerent, anti-mask Karens in today’s society. But that’s exactly what a Trader Joe’s manager does in this new viral video. And he’s our hero because of it.
According to Twitter/Instagram user @davenewworld_, the altercation took place in Salem, Oregon. The two-and-a-half-minute excerpt of an originally eight-minute video has also gone viral on r/publicfreakout subreddit.
The video begins with an unseen woman approaching the store entrance, who quite quickly exposes herself as a Karen.
“We’re here to shop,” the Karen behind the video says.
“Peacefully shop,” her friend adds.
But there’s just one problem: These Karens can’t shop unless they mask up, which they have no intention of doing.
Trader Joe’s manager rejecting entitled anti-masker Karens from r/PublicFreakout
“We told everybody to maintain their distance, be polite and respectful, and respect other people’s rights,” a male Karen says (what’s their official name anyway?) “We don’t want special treatment. We just want to be honored as shoppers.”
Basically these Karens want special treatment by being permitted to shop without masks.
As the Trader Joe’s employee continues to engage them politely, not passing judgment on their beliefs, it becomes clear he’s not going to let them pass.
“I don’t want to tell you guys what to think, what to do, what to believe, anything like that,” our hero says. “I would just ask kindly that you guys understand that here at TJ’s, we’re just trying to work, make a living. The difference you guys are trying to make isn’t gonna be made with us. It can be made with your government.”
That’s when it begins to dawn on the Karens that they’re not going to get their way, and they turn irate.
“We’re just shopping,” the head Karen protests.
“I am not here to debate policy,” the manager tells them. “My responsibility as a manager of this store is to enforce the mandate, whether you guys believe in that mandate [or not].”
This back-and-forth continues for an excruciating eight minutes, as the Karens continue to insist they have a right to shop, and that Trader Joe’s has no legal grounds to enforce the mask mandate.
Just….wear a mask
